Obsolete coin: History-information, history, coin list, price

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Sunday, 15 May 2016

Straits Settlements India Straits 1862 coin price

Unknown 5/15/2016 04:05:00 am

The government of the Straits Settlements was acquired by the British Secretary of State from the East India Company on 1958 to control coins issued through the Accountant General to the Government of India. In 1862, The Calcutta Mint was asked to strike a new copper coins. The 1862 coins were of the same size and weight of the previous issue and the same portrait of Queen Victoria was on the obverse.

The new coin reverse was redesigned, in the previous issue the coin show the fixed date of 1845 and the name "East India Company". The reverse now has the myrtle wreath against the rim and within the wreath the words ONE CENT INDIA STRAITS 1862 on seperate lines. The words CENT and INDIA are underlined in their central portion. The one is replaced by HALF and 1/4 for the lower denominations.

"India Straits" reflecting the Straits Settlements control is via India. Again, in accordance with the 1835 ruling, which ordained that the date on the coins reflect the date of introduction of a new design, the date 1862 appeared on all coins struck for the Straits Settlements between 1862 and 1867 when it became an independent Crown Colony.

The quarter cent is the most difficult of all to find, especially in top grades.

These copper coins had a limited legal tender up to $1.

1/4 cent Straits Settlements India Straits 1862 coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1/4 cent
Country: Straits Settlements
Ruler/Governor: Queen Victoria
Mint: Calcutta Mint, India
Diameter: 18 mm
Thickness:
Weight: 2.33 g

Coin Shape: Round
Composition: Copper
Coin Edge: Plain

Coin Price:

Year	Mintage	Note	V.Fine	E.Fine	Uncirculated	Proof
1862	3,367,865	-	225	800	1,950	-

1/2 cent Straits Settlements India Straits 1862 coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1/2 cent
Country: Straits Settlements
Ruler/Governor: Queen Victoria
Mint: Calcutta Mint, India
Diameter: 22.5 mm
Thickness:
Weight: 4.66 g

Coin Shape: Round
Composition: Copper
Coin Edge: Plain

Coin Price:

Year	Mintage	Note	V.Fine	E.Fine	Uncirculated	Proof
1862	4,590,499	-	65	320	1,130	-

1 cent Straits Settlements India Straits 1862 coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1 cent
Country: Straits Settlements
Ruler/Governor: Queen Victoria
Mint: Calcutta Mint, India
Diameter: 29 mm
Thickness:
Weight: 9.33 g

Coin Shape: Round
Composition: Copper
Coin Edge: Plain

Coin Price:

Year	Mintage	Note	V.Fine	E.Fine	Uncirculated	Proof
1862	9,320,610	-	30	100	5,800	-

*Price in US Dollar

Straits Settlements Queen Victoria coins Price:

coin price East India Co History Straits Settlements

Straits Settlements East India Co coin price

Unknown 5/15/2016 04:04:00 am

In 1844, the Governor-General of India authorized the issue of coinage for The Straits Settlements. The first coins issued for The Straits Settlements in 1845 were ¼, ½ and 1 cent denominations in copper. the coins was declared legal tender in Straits Settlements by Indian Act VI of 1847 with effect from 1st June 1847 with a limit of 100 cents=one dollar. The dies for this coinage were engraved by William Wyon, chief engraver at the Royal Mint, London.

An East India Company ruling dated 22 April 1835 specified that "The year of the dies will represent the era of the alteration of the coins and will not need to be changed until a new coin shall be ordered to be struck". This ruling was applied to the Straits issue, it was 1862 before a new design was introduced. The 1845 coins did not arrive until May 1847 so all copper coins introduced to circulation between that date and 1862 bore the date 1845.

The coin obverse show the young potrait of Queen Victoria by William Wyon. Head of the Queen wearing coronet or diadem ornamented with a scroll facing left; around, "VICTORIA QUEEN". The ends of the coronet are connected by a band which is partly hidden by the hair. The hair is drawn into a knot decorated with beads behind the head. The reverse shows a myrtle wreath with denomination value within and with the inscription "EAST INDIA COMPANY" against the plain edged rim.

1/4 cent Straits Settlements East India Company 1845 coin

Year	Mintage	Note	V.Fine	E.Fine	Uncirculated	Proof
1845	34,327,247	-	30.00	70.00	400.00	-

1/2 cent Straits Settlements East India Company 1845 coin

Year	Mintage	Note	V.Fine	E.Fine	Uncirculated	Proof
1845	18,737,498	-	30.00	100.00	650.00	-

1 cent Straits Settlements East India Company 1845 coin

Year	Mintage	Note	V.Fine	E.Fine	Uncirculated	Proof
1845	18,525,893	-	30.00	100.00	500.00	-

*Price in US Dollar

Straits Settlements Queen Victoria coins Price:

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

History Straits Settlements

Straits Settlements Coins History

Unknown 5/04/2016 05:18:00 pm

Straits Settlements was established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867. The Straits Settlements consisted of the four individual settlements of Malacca, Dinding, Penang (also known as Prince of Wales Island), Singapore (with Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands). The island of Labuan, off the coast of Borneo, was also incorporated into the colony with effect from 1 January 1907, becoming a separate settlement within it in 1912.

East India Company 1845 coins

In 1844, the Governor-General of India authorized the issue of coinage for The Straits Settlements. The first coins issued for the Straits Settlements in 1845 were ¼, ½ and 1 cent denominations in copper. the coins was declared legal tender in Straits Settlements by Indian Act VI of 1847 with effect from 1st June 1847 with a limit of 100 cents=one dollar. The dies for this coinage were engraved by William Wyon, chief engraver at the Royal Mint, London. The coinage was struck at the Calcutta Mint in 1845. A further issue of this coinage dated 1845 was restruck at the Madras Mint in 1858. These coins bear the young potrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse and the inscription "EAST INDIA COMPANY" on the reverse.

India Straits 1862 coins

By Indian Act XIII dated 23 April 1862, a second issue of the ¼, ½ and 1 cent denominations was produced in 1862 by the government of British India. These bore the inscription "India - Straits". These coins were struck at the Calcutta Mint, India and bear the year date 1862.

The Straits Settlements coins issued between 1871 and 1935 with the inscription of "Straits Settlements" with three series of of coins under the reign of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V.

Queen Victoria coins

The first series of Straits Settlements coins bearing the inscription “Straits Settlement” was issued in 1871. 5 Cents, 10 Cents and 20 Cents were introduced in 1871. In 1872 ¼ Cent, ½ Cent and 1 Cent were released into circulation. Silver 50 cents coins were first introduced in 1886. ¼ , ½ and 1 Cent coins were made by copper and bronze depending on their issuance year. 5, 10, 20 and 50 Cents were made by .800 silver.

The Straits Settlements coinage gradually became acceptable legal tender in the neighbouring Federated Malay States consisting Perak, Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan which came into being on 1st July 1896.

The Unfederated Malay States consisting of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu came to accept the coinage of the Straits Settlements after the appointment of British advisers in 1909. Johor only accepted the appointment of British Advisor in 1914. However, due to the close prodimity of Johor to Melaka and Singapore, the coinage of the Straits Settlements was already in circulation in Johor by the late 19th Century.

10 january 1874 by Government Notification No.14: The American Trade Dollar and the Japanese Yen or Dollar were admitted to the Straits Settlements us unlimited legal tender.

21 October 1890 by order of Her Majesty the Queen in Council: The silver Mexican dollar was declared the standard legal tender coin of the Straits Settlements. the silver dollar of Hong Kong and the Japanese Yen or Dollar were also acceptable provided they were not below the minimum weight and fineness. The Silver dollar of Spain, Peru and Bolivia were declared non legal tender.

21 October 1890 by order of Her Majesty the Queen in Council: The American Trade dollar was declared legal tender with effect from 1st January 1891.

King Edward VII coins

A new dollar coin for the Straits Settlements was introduced in 1903. All foreign silver dollars which were in circulation in the Straits Settlements were demonitized with effect from 31st August 1904 and were replaced with the Straits Settlements dollar. The idea was that when the exchange value had diverged significantly from that of the other silver dollars, then the authorities would peg it to sterling at that value, hence putting the Straits Settlements unto the gold exchange standard.

On 22 October 1906 by the Straits Settlements (coinage) order of 1906: The Straits Settlements adopted the gold exchange standard. A gold value of 2 Shilings 4 Pence was given to the Strais Settlements Dollar by the governemnt which also authorised the board of Currency Commisioners to receive gold at the rate of seven gold Sovereigns for 60 Settlements Silver Dollar.

By November 1906, the first Straits Settlements large silver dollars dated 1903 and 1904 became intrinsically worth their face value. A second series of smaller Straits Settlements dollar of a lower silver weight were struck between 1907 until 1909.

King George V coins

These series of 1907-1909 silver dollar were also became overvalued by August 1917 and were subsequently replaced by a further reduced silver content and weight dollars dated 1919 and 1920.

On 29 August 1918, "The Legal Tender (Supplementary) Enactment 1918" came into force. It provided for the issuance of the 5, 10, and 20 cents coins of lower silver (.400 fine) silver content. This was followed on the 29 October 1919, "The Legal Tender (Supplementary) Enactment 1919" which reduced the silver fineness of the 50 cents and One dollar from .900 to .500. It proved difficult to produce 5 cents coins of sufficient size and reduced weight to be easily portable. A new 5 cents coin in Cupro Nickel was minted in 1920.

In September 1933, Sir Basil P. Blackett was appointed head of the Currency Commission to review the currency for the Straits Settlements and the neighboring Malay States. Finally in 1939, newly designed coinage was introduced by the recently appointed Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya.

The coinage of the Straits Settlements continued to be used until 31st December 1952, after which it was demonetized.

Source:
1. Saran Singh "The Encyclopaedia of the coins of Malaya Singapore and Brunei 1400-1967".

2. Wikipedia

Thursday, 8 January 2015

coin list History Sarawak

Sarawak Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke coins

Unknown 1/08/2015 07:08:00 am

Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke, born Charles Anthoni Johnson, ruled as the head of state of Sarawak from 3 August 1868 until his death on 17 May 1917. Although Sir Charles have been on the throne since 1868, he only managed to make Sarawak coin with his own portrait on 1870.

Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke

The copper coins with the denominations of 1/4, 1/2 and 1 Cent were minted by R. Heaton & Sons, Birmingham. These coin followed the previous design on James Brooke Copper coins. The date 1870 appeared on the reverse, although the coins were not actually issued till the following year.

Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke 1/4 cent coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1/4 Cent
Issued By: Charles Johnson Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1870, 1896H
Shape: Round
Material: Copper
Dimensions: 18 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 9.203 g
Coin Edge:Plain
Mint: Smith & Wright, Birmingham, England; H-Heaton Mint
Artist: ?
References: KM#4.

Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke 1/2 cent coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1/2 Cent
Issued By: Charles Johnson Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1870, 1879, 1896H.
Shape: Round
Material: Copper
Dimensions: 22.5 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 4.569 g
Coin Edge:Plain
Mint: Smith & Wright, Birmingham, England; H- Heaton Mint.
Artist: ?
References: KM#5.

Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke 1 cent coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1 Cent
Issued By: Charles Johnson Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1870, 1879, 1880, 1882, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1889H, 1890H, 1891, 1891H
Shape: Round
Material: Copper
Dimensions: 29 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 9.16 g
Coin Edge:Plain
Mint: Smith & Wright, Birmingham, England; H-Heaton Mint.
Artist: ?
References: KM#6.

During Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke’s rule, the State of Sarawak was placed under British protection in 1888 and the governor or the Straits Settlements was appointed Agent of Sarawak. As a protectorate of Britain, Sarawak gained a parliamentary government. Investment in state infrastructure included a railway and the development of natural resources after oil was discovered.

Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke 1 cent central hole coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1 Cent
Issued By: Charles Johnson Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1892H, 1893H, 1894H, 1896H, 1897H
Shape: Round, central hole
Material: Copper
Dimensions: 29.5 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 9.25 g
Coin Edge:Plain
Mint: Heaton & Son, Birmingham, England.
Artist: ?
References: KM#7.

In 1891 the export of the coins of Sarawak was forbidden due to the complaints by the Straits Settlements Government. As a result, from 1892 until 1897 new copper 1 cent coins with a centre hole and a smaller portrait of the Rajah were released, to avoid confusion with the Strait Settlements coins.

In 1889, responsibility for ordering the coins was transferred to the British North Borneo Company in London and henceforward the coins were impressed with the H mint mark of the Heaton Mint. Thus the cent dated 1889 exists in two versions, with or without the H mint mark which appears on the reverse, below the ribbon of the wreath. Some 3,210,000 cents were struck that year, equally divided between those with and without the mint mark. All of the cents issued in 1890 had the mint mark, but in 1891 only about two-thirds of the mintage (1,623,888 in all) bore the letter H, while the others were unmarked.

Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke 5 cents coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 5 Cents
Issued By: Charles Johnson Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1900H, 1908H, 1911H, 1913H, 1915H.
Shape: Round
Material: .800 Silver
Dimensions: 11 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 1.359 g
Coin Edge:Milled
Mint: Heaton & Son, Birmingham, England.
Artist: ?
References: KM#8.

Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke 10 cents coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 10 Cents
Issued By: Charles Johnson Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1900H, 1906H, 1910H, 1911H, 1913H, 1915H.
Shape: Round
Material: .800 Silver
Dimensions: 18 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 2.658 g
Coin Edge:Milled
Mint: Heaton & Son, Birmingham, England.
Artist: ?
References: KM#9.

Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke 20 cents coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 20 Cents
Issued By: Charles Johnson Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1900H, 1906H, 1910H, 1911H, 1913H, 1915H.
Shape: Round
Material: .800 Silver
Dimensions: 24 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 5.378 g
Coin Edge:Milled
Mint: Heaton & Son, Birmingham, England.
Artist: ?
References: KM#10.

Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke 50 cents coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 50 Cents
Issued By: Charles Johnson Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1900H, 1906H.
Shape: Round
Material: .800 Silver
Dimensions: 32 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 13.537 g
Coin Edge:Milled
Mint: Heaton & Son, Birmingham, England.
Artist: ?
References: KM#11.

Sarawak rich in gold, coal, and other minerals but in 1909 oil was discovered. The growing prosperity of Sarawak led to a demand for higher denominations, and in 1900 the Heaton Mint began striking coins in .800 fine silver, comprising 5,10,20 and 50 cents. The three highest denominations were repeated in 1906 and the 5 cent in 1908; 10 and 20 cents were issued in 1910, while 5, 10 and 20 cents were struck in 1911, 1913 and 1915.

The silver coins are scarcer than the copper issues due to a mintage under 200,000 per issue for the series and a low survival rate as a result of the melting of almost all of the Sarawak silver obtained by Japanese during their World War II occupation.

Tuesday, 16 September 2014

coin list History Sarawak

Rajah James Brooke Sarawak coins

Unknown 9/16/2014 06:33:00 am

James Brooke arrival to Sarawak in 1839 changed the history of Sarawak coinage. When Sultan of Brunei granted James Brooke the title "Rajah of Sarawak", officially making him governor and ruler of Sarawak in August 18, 1842, he start to introduced a keping token which show the badger or brock on the obverse with his initials J.B (James Brooke).

He ordered a quantity of kepings from a small private mint in Birmingham with help from a trading company based in London and Birmingham, Messrs Smith & Wright. The coin reverse was struck from an old worn out die bearing the denomination "satu keping" (one keping) in Arabic and the date 1247A.H (1831) which had been used earlier for the striking of the Singapore Merchant Token.

They were struck in copper or brass, the later being the scarcer variety, although both versions are rare. Counterfeit of the Sarawak 1841 keping came on to the market in 1971 and have since caused many a headache to collectors.

Many people believe that the token is to commemorate the day James Brooke received the land and title "Rajah of Sarawak" from Pengiran Muda Hashim.

Rajah James Brooke 1 keping coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1 keping
Issued By: James Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1841
Mint: ?
Shape: Round
Material:Brass, Copper
Dimensions: 21.5 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 1.75 g
Coin Edge:Plain
References: KM#Tn1 (copper), KM# Tn1a (brass).

When James Brooke returned to England in 1863, he was knighted by Queen Victoria and Britain recognized Sarawak as an independent state. He also returned to England to order a full series of Sarawak coins. He arranged for copper coins with the denominations of 1/4, 1/2 and 1 Cent to be struck in Ralph Heaton Mint with the help of his British agents Buchanan, Hamilton & Co. The dies for these coins as well as the later copper coinage of 1870 were engraved by Joseph Moore.

Rajah James Brooke 1/4 cent coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1/4 Cent
Issued By: James Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1863
Shape: Round
Material: Copper
Dimensions: 18 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 2.298 g
Coin Edge:Plain
Mint: Ralph Heaton and Son Mint, Birmingham, Great Britain.
Artist: Joseph Moore - Allan and Moore, Great Britain.
References: KM#1.

Rajah James Brooke 1/2 cent coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1/2 Cent
Issued By: James Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1863
Shape: Round
Material: Copper
Dimensions: 23 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 4.653 g
Coin Edge:Plain
Mint: Ralph Heaton and Son Mint, Birmingham, Great Britain.
Artist: Joseph Moore - Allan and Moore, Great Britain.
References: KM#2.

Rajah James Brooke 1 cent coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1 Cent
Issued By: James Brooke, Sarawak
Year: 1863
Shape: Round
Material: Copper
Dimensions: 29 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 9.572 g
Coin Edge:Plain
Mint: Ralph Heaton and Son Mint, Birmingham, Great Britain.
Artist: Joseph Moore - Allan and Moore, Great Britain.
References: KM#3.

James Brooke never married and don't have any children. When he died in 1868, the throne went by edict to his nephew, Sir Charles Johnson Brooke.

Sunday, 14 September 2014

coin list History Sarawak

White Rajahs of Sarawak Coins History

Unknown 9/14/2014 06:54:00 am

Before the arrival of James Brooke, Sarawak was under the rule of Brunei. On 1839, when James Brooke arrived in Kuching with his private warship, he found out that Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II faced a major rebellion led by Pengiran Indera Mahkota. Particularly the settlement around the gold mining areas were facing an uprising against the Brunei ruling from native Dayaks and the Malays. James Brooke helped Pengiran Muda Hashim the Uncle of the Brunei Sultan, to suppress the rebellion. He called in the British Navy to suppress the local pirates, who were supported by the Sarawak rebels.

On 24th September 1841, Pengiran Muda Hashim bestowed the title Governor to James Brooke in return for his help. At first, the Sultan of Brunei don't support the idea of James Brooke as a Rajah of Sarawak. After waiting for almost a year, James Brooke warns the Sultan by aiming his cannons at the Sultan’s palace in Brunei and with an alliance of Dayaks behind him. The move has change the Sultan mind and Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II granted James Brooke the title "Rajah of Sarawak", officially making him governor and ruler of Sarawak in August 18, 1842.

On 6 July 1846, British attack Brunei after the massacre of Pengiran Muda Hashim by the Sultan men. Brunei lost the war and Sultan Omar Ali Saiffuddin had to flee to Damuan. Subsequently Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II was forced to sign a treaty to end the British occupation of Brunei Town.

Due to British pressure, Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddin II also ceded Labuan to the British under the Treaty of Labuan signed on 18 December 1846. James Brooke was subsequently knighted and appointed as the first British Governor of Labuan in 1847.

Between 1853-1905, Brooke family managed to suppress more rebellions and their territory rapidly developed to the size of present Sarawak state.

Brooke Coat of Arms

The arms made use of were those granted to Rajah Sir James Brooke, K.CB. He died without issue and was succeeded as Rajah by his nephew, H.H. Rajah Sir Charles Johnson Brooke, G.C.M.G. (originally Johnson), who adopted the name of Brooke and the arms of his uncle. These arms are : " Or, a cross engrailed per cross indented azure and sable, in the first quarter an estoile of the second. Crest— On an Eastern crown a brock proper ducally gorged or. Motto—" Dum spiro spero." The Rajah flies a yellow forked flag, charged with a cross per pale sable and gules charged with a crown and with the red lateral arm of the cross extended saltirewise to each point of the fork. The motto, Dum Spiro Spero which means "While I Breathe, I Hope."

Rajah James Brooke

James Brooke start to introduced Sarawak coinage soon after the Sultan announced him as a Rajah of Sarawak in 1842. With help from a trading company based in London and Birmingham, Messrs Smith & Wright, he ordered a quantity of kepings from a small private mint in Birmingham.

The first Sarawak coin is a keping token which show the badger or brock on the obverse, derived from the crest of the Brooke Coat of Arms, under it are the initials J.B. (James Brooke) and the date SEPt 24 1841. The coin reverse was struck from an old worn out die bearing the denomination "satu keping" (one keping) in Arabic and the date 1247A.H (1831) which had been used earlier for the striking of the Singapore Merchant Token.

Many people believe that the token is to commemorate the day James Brooke received the land and title "Rajah of Sarawak" from Pengiran Muda Hashim.

When James Brooke returned to England in 1863, he was knighted by Queen Victoria and Britain recognized Sarawak as an independent state. He also returned to England to order a full series of Sarawak coins. He arranged for copper coins with the denominations of 1/4, 1/2 and 1 Cent to be struck in Ralph Heaton Mint (now known as the Birmingham Mint) with the help of his British agents Buchanan, Hamilton & Co. The dies for these coins as well as the later copper coinage of 1870 were engraved by Joseph Moore. Heaton won a contract which was to last until the Japanese overran Sarawak at the end of 1941.

James Brooke never married and don't have any children. When he died in 1868, the throne went by edict to his nephew, Sir Charles Johnson Brooke.

Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke

Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke

When Rajah Charles Johnson Brooke died in 1917, succession passed to his son Charles Vyner Brooke. The first series of coins issued by Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke was in 1920. The coinage of Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke continued the tradition set by his father and his father’s uncle.

Due to the scarcity of silver after the 1st world war, copper-nickel coins were authorized in 1921. Silver continued to be used in the production of 20 and 50 cent pieces in 1927, but at a .500 fine standard.

The Royal Mint’s annual report indicated that 1,002,227 pieces of 1 cent coin were struck in 1942 by the Birmingham Mint Ltd. However, no one cent coins dated 1942H have so far been traced.

Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke and his family were in Sydney, Australia when Japan invaded Sarawak in 1941. He was forced to remain in Australia for the duration of the war as Japan held Sarawak until 1945. Charles Vyner Brooke was finally able to return to Sarawak on April 15, 1946, where he resumed the title of Rajah. Sarawak had been ravaged by war and needed the finances to accomplish major reconstruction. Charles accept healthy pension offer from the British Government, ceded Sarawak to the British Government on July 1,1946, as a crown colony.

Besides the silver, another numismatic casualty of World War II was the 1941-H bronze cent. It is believed that the ship transporting the mintage of these coins to Sarawak for use in commerce was sunk by the Japanese during World War II. Thus, it is a very scarce coin today. Only about 50 examples of the 1 cent of 1941 are now believed to be in existence.

Following the transfer of Sarawak to the British Crown in 1946, the currency of Sarawak had been under review. Finally on 1st January 1952, the Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya and British Borneo came into being. In 1953 coins featuring Queen Elizabeth under Malaya and North Borneo were issued and the old coinage withdrawn from circulation in Sarawak.

Source:
-World coins: The coinage of the White Rajahs of Sarawak by Jay Turner.
-British Borneo Sketches of Brunai, Sarawak, Labuan, and North Borneo by W. H. Treacher
-Piracy, Maritime Terrorism and Securing the Malacca Straits edited by Graham Gerard Ong-Webb
-The Milwaukee Journal - Jan 15, 1938
-History of Sarawak Coinage by James A Mackay, Coin Digest, 1989 Vol.2.No.1
-The Encyclopaedia of the coins of Malaya Singapore and Brunei 1400-1967 by Saran Singh.
-The book of public arms: a complete encyclopædia of all royal, territorial, municipal, corporate, official, and impersonal arms by Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles.

Sunday, 31 August 2014

coin list History North Borneo

British North Borneo Coins History

Unknown 8/31/2014 07:05:00 am

When Baron Von Overbeck failed to obtain support of the Austrian Government to develop North Borneo concession, he withdrew his partnership from the concession in 1879, leaving Alfred Dent and his associates in London as the owner of a large tract of territory in North Borneo. In early 1881, Alfred Dent and his associates formed a British North Borneo Provisional Association Limited to acquire Alfred Dent's interests and claims in North Borneo as well as to obtain a Royal Charter with the intent to set up a British North Borneo Company.

On 1st November 1881, the the House to the Royal Charter assigned The North Borneo Chartered Company or British North Borneo Company as a chartered company to administer North Borneo.

On 21st July 1882, the new company was granted it's Coat of Arms by the College of Arms.

Official blazon ( formal description of a coat of arms):

Arms: Azure in base on waves of the sea a native boat of North Borneo with sails manned and oars in action proper, a chief Or, thereon a lion passant guardant Gules.

Crest: Upon a wreath of the colours, two arms embowed that on the dexter side being an arm of a native of North Borneo proper, that on the sinister side being an arm vested Azure cuffed Argent, the hands grasping a staff proper thereon hoisted a flag flowing to the sinister Or charged with a lion guardant Gules.

Supporters: On either side a Dayak of North Borneo that on the dexter supporting with its exterior hand a native shield and that on the sinister supporting in his exterior hand a native sword point downwards all proper.

Motto: pergo et perago

The two arms in the crest symbolize the European and native populations. the company motto ” PERGO ET PERAGO” in latin mean "I undertake and I accomplish".

Alfred Dent and his associates had planned to introduce their own coinage in British North Borneo since 1879. The Birmingham Mint Limited struck PATTERN coins in denominations which are believed to correspond to a 1/4 cent, 1/2 cent and a 1 cent with a central hole and Arabic inscriptions on both sides.

The obverse of the patterns has the name Sultan Miuhammad Jamala'l-a'zam 1295A.H. (1878) year two. However no Sultan bearing the name Miuhammad Jamala'l-a'zam is known to have existed either in Sulu or Brunei around the period when the pattern coins were struck. The ruler of Sulu at this time was Sultan jamulul-a'lam. It is probable that the name on the patterns could be a fantasy which was inserted to acknowledge a former hereditary Ruler of Northern Borneo by the new regime of Alfred Dent. Due to subsequents events, the above patterns were rejected as by 1880, plans had been a foot to set up a British North Borneo Company.

The standard monetary unit in Borneo was the Mexican Silver Dollar (8 Reales). However, from it's inception in 1881, the British North Borneo Chartered Company adopted the monetary units of the Straits Settlements. Later by Ordinance No.3 of 1914, the Straits Settlements silver dollar was declared legal tender to a limit of ten dollars.

In 1882, the British North Borneo Chartered Company introduced the copper 1 cent coinage followed by the 1/2 cent in 1885. At that time, British North Borneo Company don't produce Silver coins because they don't get enough profit.

The 1 cent, 2 1/2 cents and 5 cents coinage in Cupro Nickel was introduced in 1903/4. In 1929 the only 25 cents coin in silver was minted for the State of North Borneo. These denominations were issued at intervals up to 1941. All coins were minted at the mint of Ralph Heaton and sons Limited (after 1879 known as the Birmingham Mint Limited). The limit of legal tender of the British North Borneo Chartered Company's coinage was as follows:

1/2 cent copper & 1 cent copper-limit of legal tender $2
1 cent, 2 1/2 cents and 5 cents Cupro-Nickel & 25 cents silver-limit of legal tender $5

British North Borneo 1/2 cent coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1/2 cent
Issued By: British North Borneo Company, British North Borneo.
Year: 1885H, 1886H, 1887H, 1891H, 1907H
Mint: Heaton & Sons, Birmingham, England.
Shape: Round
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 28.5 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 4.629 g (Weight)
Coin Edge: Plain
References: KM#1

British North Borneo 1 cent (bronze) coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1 cent
Issued By: British North Borneo Company, British North Borneo.
Year: 1882H, 1884H, 1885H, 1886H, 1887H, 1888H, 1889H, 1890H, 1891H, 1894H, 1896H, 1907H
Mint: Heaton & Sons, Birmingham, England.
Shape: Round
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 29 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 9.303 g (Weight)
Coin Edge: Plain
References: KM#2

British North Borneo 1 cent (copper nickel) coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 1 cent
Issued By: British North Borneo Company, British North Borneo.
Year: 1904H, 1921H, 1935H, 1938H, 1941H
Mint: Heaton & Sons, Birmingham, England.
Shape: Round
Material: Copper-Nickel
Dimensions: 20 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 3.120 g
Coin Edge: Plain
References: KM#3

British North Borneo 2 1/2 Cents coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 2 1/2 Cents
Issued By: British North Borneo Company, British North Borneo.
Year: 1903H, 1920H
Mint: Heaton & Sons, Birmingham, England.
Shape: Round
Material: Copper-Nickel
Dimensions: 25 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 4.97 g
Coin Edge: Plain
References: KM#4

British North Borneo 5 Cents coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 5 Cents
Issued By: British North Borneo Company, British North Borneo.
Year: 1903H, 1920H, 1921H, 1927H, 1928H, 1938H, 1940H, 1941H
Mint: Heaton & Sons, Birmingham, England.
Shape: Round
Material: Copper-Nickel
Dimensions: 28 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 7.360 g
Coin Edge: Plain
References: KM#5

British North Borneo 25 Cents coin

Technical Specifications:
Denomination: 25 Cents
Issued By: British North Borneo Company, British North Borneo.
Year: 1929H
Mint: Heaton & Sons, Birmingham, England.
Shape: Round
Material: .500 Silver
Dimensions: 18 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 2.83 g
Coin Edge: Milled
References: KM#6

On 31 December 1941, the Japanese invasion convoy occupy Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu). All North Borneo coins were discontinued to be legal tender in 1941 with Japanese invasion. After the surrender of the Japanese in 1945, North Borneo coins regain their position as legal tender.

The sovereignty of the British North Borneo Company was abolished on 15 July 1946 and British North Borneo became a British Crown Colony. On September 9, 1948 North Borneo received new arms. When British North Borneo acceded to the Malaysian Federation as the state of Sabah in 1963, the coat of arms was modified. The lion and dhow disappeared from the shield, but the two-armed crest was retained. Today, those same two arms grasp the current flag of Sabah.

Source: Wikipedia, Saran Singh "The Encyclopaedia of the coins of Malaya Singapore and Brunei 1400-1967".

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